Motion picture camera

ABSTRACT

A motion picture camera with dissolving shutter for fadeout and fade-in effects includes a mask which overlies a light-admitting opening in front of the film gate when the motor is operated in reverse following the fadeout. The mask prevents exposure of the film during rewinding preparatory to fade-in in the event that the operator fails to fully close the shutter during fadeout.

[451 Feb. 15, 1972 United States Patent Heinzmann 352/124 .352/178 X...352/9l X 352/176 X 7mm mm mm .r mwmm .mmwbn e u HHMKW 05906 6667699999 HUN m6254 wwmmM KA- 56526 582 4 2 ,55 23333 m c m A n, G R .m 0W Em m M c m A mm C E R mm U .m B T m mm C he H m om R RU N m m w T m m. 0w m M m M m m m [22] Filed: 1969 Primary Examiner-S. Clement SwisherAssistant Examiner-Joseph W. Roskos Attorney-Michael S. Striker [21]Appl. No.: 851,234

7] ABSTRACT A motion picture camera with dissolving shutter for fadeoutand fade-in effects includes a mask which overlies a light-admittingopening in front of the film gate when the motor is operated in reversefollowing the fadeout. The mask [30] Foreign Application Priority Dataprevents exposure of the film during rewinding preparatory to fade-in eevent that the operator fails to fully close the shutter w e M m u .md 276 8 L dB- m 3 l 11 22 IF 7 bn 9 331 n mm un P 1 5 u v u 3 m m" u m 4 Um2 m v 5 m m j r m m e u u G W m 8 6 n 9 "mm 1 u" w G M d m su A Ulfi1]] 218 555 [[l.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,065,777 12/1936 Weissbrodt...........................

MOTION PICTURE CAMERA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to improvements in motion picture cameras of the type havingdissolving means for the production of fade-in and fadeout effects. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to improvements in cameras which areequipped with manually operated or motor-driven dissolving means andwherein the mechanism which rewinds the film preparatory to fade-inpreferably includes an electric motor or another prime mover.

In certain presently known motion picture cameras which are providedwith a dissolving shutter, the operator is likely to arrest the motorwhich drives the film transporting mechanism during fadeout of a scenebefore the shutter is fully closed. Thus, the shutter can admit scenelight to the motion picture film during rewinding which renders the filmuseless. The likelihood of incomplete closing of the shutter duringfadeout is especially pronounced in motion picture cameras wherein theshutter is adjusted by hand and which embody a timer mechanism servingto automatically arrest the motor after a predetermined interval of timeduring which the film is being moved backwards preparatory to fade-in ofthe next-following scene. If an operator who is not fully familiar withthe mode of operation of such motion picture cameras is slow in closingthe shutter, the timer mechanism arrests the motor before the shutter isclosed and, if the operator thereupon fails to completely close theshutter prior to fade-in, the corresponding portion of the film isexposed three times, namely, during fadeout, during rewinding and duringfade-in so that is must be discarded. It can also happen that theadjusting mechanism for the dissolving shutter is inadvertently actuatedupon completion of fadeout so that the shutter is partly open duringrewinding of the film. Similar problems arise in connection with themanipulation of cameras which are equipped with motoroperated dissolvingshutters. Though such cameras are less likely to admit scene light tomotion picture film during rewinding, i.e., preparatory to fade-in,admission of light during rewinding is not impossible, especially if thecamera is manipulated by an inexperienced amateur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of my invention is to provide amotion picture camera of the type embodying dissolving means for theproduction of fadeout and fade-in effects with a novel and improveddevice which automatically prevents exposure of film to scene lightduring rewinding preparatory to fade-in of the next-following scene.

Another object of the invention is to provide a motion picture camerawherein the aforementioned device occupies little room and may performone or more additional useful functions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a light interceptingdevice which can be incorporated in many presently known types of camerawith minimal alterations in the design and mode of operation of suchcameras.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a light interceptingdevice which need not be directly manipulated by the operator but isstill effective to prevent the exposure of film to scene light duringrewinding upon completion of fadeout even if the operator is not awareof the presence of such device in the camera.

The invention is embodied in a motion picture camera which comprisesdissolving means operative to produce fadeout and fade-in effects, filmtransporting means arranged to move the film forwardly or backwards andpreferably including a reversible electric motor, reversing meansactuatable to set the film transporting means for operation in reverseduring which the film is moved backwards preparatory to fade-in, andlight intercepting means for preventing exposure of film to scene lightduring operation of the film transporting means in reverse andindependently of the condition of the dissolving means following thecompletion of fadeout, i.e., in-

dependently of whether or not the dissolving means could admit scenelight immediately after the fadeout of the preceding scene is completed.

In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of my invention, thelight intercepting means comprises a platelike mask which is biased to aretracted position and is movable by the reversing means to anintercepting position in which it overlies a film admitting opening infront of the film gate.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved motion picture camera itself, however, both as to itsconstruction and its mode of operation, together with additionalfeatures and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal ofthe following detailed description of certain specific embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary partlydiagrammatic longitudinal vertical sectional view of a motion picturecamera which embodies one forrn of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the reversing and lightintercepting means in the camera of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The motion picture camera ofFIG. 1 comprises a housing or body including a front portion having twoparallel panels or walls, 1, 2 which are respectively provided withregistering light-admitting openings or windows 3, 4. A shaft 5 which isjournaled in the walls 1, 2 forms part of a dissolving shutter whichfurther includes a fixed blade or vane 6 and an adjustable blade or vane8. The front blade 6 is provided with a customary cutout (not shown)which can admit scene light (entering by way of opening 3) to theopening 4 and thence to the motion picture film 7. The adjustable blade8 is located behind the blade 6 and is secured to a hollow shaft 9 whichis turnable on the shaft 5 by an adjusting mechanism installed in a box11 which is fixed to a sidewall 10 of the camera body. The exactconstruction of the mechanism in the box 11 forms no part of thisinvention; it suffices to say that the mechanism includes a shaft 13whichis turnable by a knob 12 and serves to adjust a transmission whichcan change the angular position of the blade 8 with reference to theblade 6 so that the blade 8 overlies a smaller or a larger portion ofthe cutout in the blade 6 or completely overlaps such cutout in order toprevent any scene light from reaching the opening 4 and film 7. The knob12 is accessible at the outer side of the camera body and is providedwith an index 14 which can be moved into registry with and is movablebetween two markers l5, 16 applied to the outer side of the wall 10.When the index 14 registers with the marker 15, the dissolving shutterincluding the blades 6, 8 permits a maximum amount of scene light toreach the opening 9 once during each revolution of the shutter. Theshutter does not admit any scene light when the knob 12 is turned in aclockwise direction to place the index 14 into registry with the marker16. The effective size of the cutout in the front shutter blade 6diminishes gradually when the knob 12 is rotated to move the index 14from registry with the marker 15 into registry with the marker 16.inversely, the amount of scene light reaching the opening 4 and film 7increases gradually when the knob 12 is turned to move back toward theillustrated normal position.

The drive means for the shutter includes a gear train which derivesmotion from the film transporting unit. The latter includes a primemover here shown as a reversible electric motor 22 which is mounted inthe front wall 1 and whose output shaft 21 rotates the shaft 5 by way ofthe aforementioned gear train including a gear 17 on the shaft 5, anintermediate gear 18 which is fixed to an intermediate shaft 19 andmeshes with the gear 17, and a pinion 20 which meshes with theintermediate gear 18 and is secured to the output shaft 21. The gear 17is formed with a projection 23 which is normally engaged by the endportion 24 of a two-armed starter lever 26 fulcrumed at 25 and having amanually depressible pushbutton 27 which is accessible from without.When the pushbutton 27 is depressed, the end portion 24 of the lever 26moves away from the projection 23 so that the gear 17 can rotate inresponse to completion of the motor circuit. This circuit includes amaster switch 28 which is normally open but closes automatically inresponse to axial displacement of a push rod 31 which is reciprocablyguided in the wall 2 of the camera body and abuts against the lower armof the lever 26. The latter is biased to the illustrated idle positionby a helical spring 29 which maintains its lower arm in abutment with afixed stop 30. The left-hand contact of the master switch 28 is elasticand is strong enough to shift the push rod 31 to the illustratedposition when the lever 26 abuts against the stop 30.

The circuit of the motor 22 further comprises two conductors 32, 33which are respectively connected to movable contacts 34, 35. The masterswitch 28 is installed in the conductor 32; the conductor 33 contains anormally closed arresting switch 36 which can be opened by a lobe 37 ofthe knob 12 when the latter assumes that end position in which the index14 registers with the fixed marker 16. The movable contacts 34, 35 aremechanically coupled to each other by a connecting member 38 having anarm 39 which can be moved up and down, as viewed in FIG. 1, by amotor-reversing knob 40. The knob 40 is mounted externally of the camerabody and is movable between the illustrated upper end position in whichits index 41 registers with a fixed marker 42 and a lower end positionin which the index 41 registers with a second fixed marker 43 and themotor 22 is set to transport the film 7 backwards in response todepression of the pushbutton 27 The movable contacts 34, 35 respectivelycooperate with pairs of fixed contacts 44a, 44b and 45a, 45b. Thecontact 44a is connected to one pole of a battery 47 or an analogousenergy source by a conductor 46 which latter is further connected withthe contact 45b by a conductor 48. The contact 44b is connected with thecontact 45a by a conductor 49 and the latter is connected with the otherpole of the battery 47 by a conductor 50. A conductor 51 bridges thearresting switch 36 and contains a control switch 52 which is normallyheld in the illustrated open position by a pin 39a of the arm 39. Thecontrol switch 52 closes automatically when the reversing knob 40 ismoved to its lower end position in which the index 41 registers with thefixed marker 43 on the wall 10.

The just described circuit includes two oppositely poled subcircuits forthe motor 22. These subcircuits can be completed by the pushbutton 27and reversing knob 40 at the will of the operator. In the illustratedupper end position of the reversing knob 40, the motor 22 is ready totransport the film 7 in a forward direction in response to depression ofthe pushbutton 27. The motor circuit is then completed from the one poleof the battery 47, by way of conductor 46, fixed contact 44a, movablecontact 34, conductor 32, switch 28, the corresponding winding of themotor 22, conductor 33, arresting switch 36, movable contact 35, fixedcontact 45a and conductors 49, 50 to the other pole of the battery 47.Upon comple tion of fadeout, and when the pushbutton 27 is depressed,the film 7 can be transported backwards in response to movement of theknob 40 to the lower end position; the motor circuit is then completedfrom the other pole of the battery 47, through the conductors 50, 49,fixed contact 44b, movable contact 34, conductor 32 and master switch28, the corresponding winding of the motor 22, conductors 33, 51,control switch 52, movable contact 35, fixed contact 45b and conductors48, 46 to the one pole of the battery. The film transporting mechanismpreferably further comprises a customary claw pulldown (not shown) whichadvances the film in a forward direction when the knob 40 assumes theillustrated position and automatically transports the film in reversewhen the knob 40 is moved to the other end position and while the motorcircuit is completed in response to depression of the pushbutton 27. Theclaw pulldown can receive motion from the pinion 20 and/or output shaft21.

The reversing knob is operatively connected with a light interceptingmask 53 which is located in front of the wall '2 and is movable from theillustrated retracted position (see particularly FIG. 2) to an extendedor intercepting position in which it overlies the opening 4 and preventsscene light from reaching the film 7 irrespective of the efiective sizeof the passage defined by the shutter blades 6 and 8. The mask 53 ismovable in parallelism with the direction of film travel and is providedwith an elongated guide slot 54 for the stems of two screws 55, 56 whichare threaded into the wall 2. A biasing device here shown as a helicalreturn spring 57 is attached to a post 58 on the wall 2 and to a post 59on a follower 61 of the mask 53 so that it tends to move the mask towardand to maintain it in the illustrated retracted position. The knob 40has an L-shaped extension 62 which engages the follower 61. When theknob 40 is released by the operators finger, the spring 57 contracts andautomatically moves the knob 40 and the mask 53 to the positions shownin FIG. 2. A fixed abutment 60 on the wall 2 defines the retractedposition of the mask 53; in such position, the mask does not interferewith the passage of scene light through the opening 4.

The operation:

To start the motor 22, the user depresses the pushbutton 27 whereby theend portion 24 of the starter lever 26 moves away from the projection 23of the gear 17 so that the gear train l7, 18, 20 is unblocked. At thesame time, the lever 26 displaces the push rod 31 to close the masterswitch 28 whereby the motor circuit is completed from one pole of thebattery 47, through the parts 46, 44a, 34, 32, 28, 22, 33, 36, 35, a,49, and to the other pole of the battery. The output shaft 21 rotatesthe shutter blades 6, 7 and simultaneously drives the aforementionedpulldown which advances the film 7 in'a forward direction so thatsuccessive frames of the film are exposed to light which is admitted viaopening 3, the cutout of the blade 6 and opening 4. The dissolvingshutter admits a maximum amount of scene light because the index 14 ofthe knob 12 is in registry with the fixed marker 15. The reversing knob40 dwells in the illustrated upper end position.

The motor 22 is arrestedin response to termination of pressure againstthe pushbutton 27. The spring 29 then returns the starter lever 26 intoabutment with the stop 30 and the master switch 28 opens automaticallyto open the motor circuit whereby its left-hand contact pushes the rod31 back to the illustrated position.

if the operator wishes to produce a dissolve, i.e., to fade out thepreceding scene and to fade in the next, the pushbutton 27 is depressedto start the motor 22 in the aforedescribed manner and the knob 12 isturned gradually to move the index 14 from registry with the marker 15toward registry with the marker 16. The lobe 37 automatically opens thearresting switch 36 so that the motor 22 comes to a halt despite thefact that the operator presses the pushbutton 27. During theaforedescribed turning of the knob 12 in a clockwise direction, themechanism in the box 11 adjusts the shutter by turning the rear blade 8with reference to the front blade 6 so that the shutter admits lesslight during successive revolutions and ceases to admit scene light whenthe arresting switch 36 opens.

in the next step, the operator depresses the pushbutton 27 to close themaster switch 28 and thereupon moves'the knob 40 to its lower endposition in which the index 41 registers with the marker 43. The controlswitch 52 is then closed so that the motor circuit is completed despitethe fact that the lobe 37 of the knob 12 continues to maintain thearresting switch 36 in open position. The knob 40 also causes the parts39, 38 to respectively move the contacts 34, 35 into engagement withfixed contacts 44b, 45b so that the motor circuit is completed from theother pole of the battery 47, through parts 50, 49, 44b, 34, 32, 28, 22,33, 51, 52, 35, 45b, 48, 46 and to the one pole of the battery. The film7 is transported backwards while the mask 53 overlies the opening 4 inthe wall 2 because the extension 62 of the knob 40 moves the follower 61and the mask 53'downwardly (away from the abutment 60) when the knob 40moves its index 41 from registry with the marker 42 into registry withthe marker 43. This insures that the film 7 cannot be exposed to scenelight during rewinding even if, due to an oversight, the index 14 of theknob 12 does not register with the marker 16 when the motor 22 isoperated in reverse, i.e., when the blades 6, 8 define a cutout whoseefiective size is not zero so that in the absence of the mask 53 scenelight could reach the film during rewinding and would render thecorresponding frames of the film useless.

The length of that portion of the film 7 which is to be rewound prior tofade-in is preferably determined automatically by a suitable timermechanism which is not shown in the drawing. Reference may be had to thecopending application, Ser, No. 728,996 filed May 14, [968 by HerbertReinsch and assigned to the same assignee. The timer mechanismautomatically arrests the motor 22 upon completed rewinding of thatlength of film which was exposed during fadeout. The operator thenreleases the pushbutton 27 and the reversing knob 40 whereby the spring57 contracts and returns the index 41 into registry with the marker 42while the mask 53 reassumes the retracted position of FIG. 2. Thecontrol switch 52 opens and the movable contacts 34, 35 respectivelyengage the fixed contacts 44a, 45a.

To begin the fade-in, the operator depresses the pushbutton 27 toprepare the motor 22 for operation in a forward direction. The motorcircuit is not completed because the lobe 37 still maintains thearresting switch 36 in open position. The operator then turns the knob12 (while holding the pushbutton 27 in depressed position) so that theindex 14 travels from registry with the marker 16 toward registry withthe marker 15. The arresting switch 36 closes immediately or shortlyafter the index 14 leaves the marker 16 and the motor 22 is started todrive the film 7 in a forward direction. The knob 12 is preferablyrotated at the same speed as during movement of the index 14 towardregistry with the marker 16. The shutter admits more scene light duringsuccessive revolutions of its blades and is fully open when the index 14returns into registry with the marker 15. From then on, the cameraoperates in a normal way and the shutter admits maximum amounts of scenelight because the rear blade 8 does not interfere with the passage ofscene light through the cutout of the front blade 6.

It is clear that the improved motion picture camera is susceptible ofmany modifications without departing from the spirit of my invention.For example, the mechanical connection between the reversing knob 40 andthe mask 53 can be replaced by a different connection, such as anelectromagnet or the like. Furthermore, the mask 53 can be omittedaltogether if the camera is provided with an adjustable diaphragm whichcan close in response to movement of the knob 40 to the lower endposition. Still further, the knob 40 can be operatively connected withthe mechanism in the box 11 to automatically close the dissolvingshutter in response to movement of the index 41 into registry with themarker 43. This insures that, if the knob 12 happens to dwell in anintermediate position when the operator decides to actuate the reversingknob 40, the latter automatically closes the dissolving shutter beforethe motor 22 is started in reverse. Such camera may include a motiontransmitting member which is provided on or moves with the knob 40 andturns the knob 12 in a counterclockwise direction until the index 14registers with the marker 16 before the motor 22 is started in reverse,provided that the knob 40 is actuated at a time when the knob 12 dwellsin an intermediate position.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of my contribution to the art.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

1. In a motion picture camera, a combination comprising dissolving meansincluding a shutter and operative to produce fadeout and fade-ineffects; film transporting means arranged to move the film forwardly andbackwards; reversing means actuatable to set the film transporting meansfor operation in reverse during which the film is moved backwardspreparatory to fade-in; intercepting means for preventing exposure offilm to scene light during operation of said film transporting means inreverse independently of the condition of said dissolving meansfollowing the completion of fadeout; an operative connection betweensaid reversing means and said intercepting means, and a member defininga light-admitting opening, said intercepting means comprising a maskwhich is movable into registry with said opening in response toactuation of said reversing means, said mask being out of registry withsaid opening during forward transport of the film.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said shutter isadjustable.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said shutter isrotatable about a predetermined axis and further comprising drive meansfor rotating said shutter in response to operation of said filmtransporting means.

4. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said dissolving meansfurther comprises manually operated adjusting means for said shutter.

5. In a motion picture camera, a combination comprising dissolving meansoperative to produce fadeout and fade-in effects; film transportingmeans arranged to move the film forwardly and backwards; reversing meansactuatable to set the film transporting means for operation in reverseduring which the film is moved backwards preparatory to fade-in; amember defining a light-admitting opening; intercepting means forpreventing exposure of film to scene light during operation of said filmtransporting means in reverse independently of the condition of saiddissolving means following the completion of fadeout, said interceptingmeans comprising a mask movable into and out of registry with saidopening and biasing means for urging said mask to a position out ofregistry with said opening; and means for moving said mask into registrywith said opening against the opposition of said biasing means.

6. In a motion picture camera, a combination comprising dissolving meansoperative to produce fadeout and fade-in effects; film transportingmeans arranged to move the film forwardly and backwards; reversing meansactuatable to set the film transporting means for operation in reverseduring which the film is moved backwards preparatory to fade-in; amember defining a light-admitting opening; intercepting means forpreventing exposure of film to scene light during operation of said filmtransporting means in reverse independently of the condition of saiddissolving means following the completion of fadeout, said interceptingmeans comprising a mask movable into and out of registry with saidopening and biasing means for urging said mask to a position out ofregistry with said opening; and an operative connection between saidreversing means and said intercepting means, said operative connectioncomprising means for moving said mask into registry with said openingagainst the opposition of said biasing means in response to actuation ofsaid reversing means.

7. In a motion picture camera, a combination comprising dissolving meansoperative to produce fadeout and fade-in effects; film transportingmeans arranged to move the film forwardly and backwards; reversing meansactuatable to set the film transporting means for operation in reverseduring which the film is moved backwards preparatory to fade-in; andintercepting means for preventing exposure of film to scene light duringoperation of said film transporting means in reverse independently ofthe condition of said dissolving means following the completion offadeout, said intercepting means comprising a mask movable betweenretracted and intercepting positions and means for moving said mask tosaid retracted position in response to completed operation of said filmtransporting means in reverse.

1. In a motion picture camera, a combination comprising dissolving meansincluding a shutter and operative to produce fadeout and fade-ineffects; film transporting means arranged to move the film forwardly andbackwards; reversing means actuatable to set the film transporting meansfor operation in reverse during which the film is moved backwardspreparatory to fade-in; intercepting means for preventing exposure offilm to scene light during operation of said film transporting means inreverse independently of the condition of said dissolving meansfollowing the completion of fadeout; an operative connection betweensaid reversing means and said intercepting means, and a member defininga light-admitting opening, said intercepting means comprising a maskwhich is movable into registry with said opening in response toactuation of said reversing means, said mask being out of registry withsaid opening during forward transport of the film.
 2. A combination asdefined in claim 1, wherein said shutter is adjustable.
 3. A combinationas defined in claim 2, wherein said shutter is rotatable about apredetermined axis and further comprising drive means for rotating saidshutter in response to operation of said film transporting means.
 4. Acombination as defined in claim 2, wherein said dissolving means furthercomprises manually operated adjusting means for said shutter.
 5. In amotion picture camera, a combination comprising dissolving meansoperative to produce fadeout and fade-in effects; film transportingmeans arranged to move the film forwardly and backwards; reversing meansactuatable to set the film transporting means for operation in reverseduring which the film is moved backwards preparatory to fade-in; amember defining a light-admitting opening; intercepting means forpreventing exposure of film to scene light during operation of said filmtransporting means in reverse independently of the condition of saiddissolving mEans following the completion of fadeout, said interceptingmeans comprising a mask movable into and out of registry with saidopening and biasing means for urging said mask to a position out ofregistry with said opening; and means for moving said mask into registrywith said opening against the opposition of said biasing means.
 6. In amotion picture camera, a combination comprising dissolving meansoperative to produce fadeout and fade-in effects; film transportingmeans arranged to move the film forwardly and backwards; reversing meansactuatable to set the film transporting means for operation in reverseduring which the film is moved backwards preparatory to fade-in; amember defining a light-admitting opening; intercepting means forpreventing exposure of film to scene light during operation of said filmtransporting means in reverse independently of the condition of saiddissolving means following the completion of fadeout, said interceptingmeans comprising a mask movable into and out of registry with saidopening and biasing means for urging said mask to a position out ofregistry with said opening; and an operative connection between saidreversing means and said intercepting means, said operative connectioncomprising means for moving said mask into registry with said openingagainst the opposition of said biasing means in response to actuation ofsaid reversing means.
 7. In a motion picture camera, a combinationcomprising dissolving means operative to produce fadeout and fade-ineffects; film transporting means arranged to move the film forwardly andbackwards; reversing means actuatable to set the film transporting meansfor operation in reverse during which the film is moved backwardspreparatory to fade-in; and intercepting means for preventing exposureof film to scene light during operation of said film transporting meansin reverse independently of the condition of said dissolving meansfollowing the completion of fadeout, said intercepting means comprisinga mask movable between retracted and intercepting positions and meansfor moving said mask to said retracted position in response to completedoperation of said film transporting means in reverse.